OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 167 



it fly direct to a hole in another tree. When assailed in its 

 retreat it emits a loud hissing noise, and has the same 

 stooping motion of the head observable in Owls ; it also 

 resembles that tribe of birds in its erect carriage, the manner 

 in which it sets out the feathers round the ears and neck, 

 and in the power it possesses of turning the head in every 

 direction, even over the back — a habit it is constantly practis- 

 ing. A pair I had for some time in captivity frequently leapt 

 towards the top of the cage, and had a singular mode of 

 running or shuffiing backwards to one corner of it." 



The usual mode of ascertaining the presence of this bird is 

 by sharply tapping the base of hollow trees with a stone or 

 tomahawk. If this be done energetically, the little inmate 

 will alm.ost invariably ascend to the outlet and peep over to 

 ascertain the cause of the disturbance so near its home. If 

 the tree be a lofty one, and no immediate further disturbance 

 occur, it will very likely retire to its hiding place at the 

 bottom of the hollow ; but should the tapping be repeated, it 

 will fly a short distance to a place of greater security. 



Nest. — Simply the dust in a hollov/ of a tree, a few inches 

 down the trunk. 



Egqs. — Three or four to a sitting ; white. Length, 1 inch ; 

 breadth, 0.85 inch. 



